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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

TechRadar reviews a range of free iPad apps:Adobe Ideas 1.0 for iPadThis free app helps you sketch out ideas, annotate photographs, extract color themes from photographs, and more. Sketches created in Adobe Ideas can be emailed as a PDF for editing in Illustrator or Photoshop or viewing with any PDF viewer.

Air Video FreeDespite naysayers whining about the iPad screen's 4:3 aspect ratio, it's a decent device for watching video, but it lacks storage for housing large video collections. Air Video enables you to stream video (converting it on-the-fly, if necessary) from your Mac or PC. The main limitation of the free version is that it only shows a few items(randomly selected) from each folder or playlist.

The Guardian EyewitnessA showcase for engaging photography, The Guardian Eyewitness provides a daily, visual reflection of global events. You get access to the most recent 100 photos, which can be viewed full-screen or with a caption and 'pro tip'. You can also save photos to your iPad or share them via email.More reviews of top free ipads at TechRadar.

A Scottish school discusses the use of the iPad in their school. The school decided to give all students the device and teachers have integrated the technology into the curriculum and say students are more engaged in classroom lessons since they began using the iPad. Educators say the device has been especially beneficial in art, where students can use basic skills to create digital art with confidence. Specifically apps are being used in new and innovative ways in the classroom.

"The iPad is not a substitute for existing media, and it requires artistic skill to master, but in some ways it more effectively helps pupils develop confidence in their abilities and enthusiasm to try," asserts art teacher Jenny Oakley. She says a combination of immediacy, security (due to 'undo') and usability means pupils "do not have to overcome the hindrance of learning to manipulate another tool – rather, they use one they've developed dexterity in since birth".With this newfound confidence, pupils are more willing to try, which Oakley says is "half the battle". The iPad also provides assistance regarding experimentation – pupils can use filters and effects to visualise how something would look in a different medium and then use real-world tools to mimic what they see on the screen